Martin Samuel at Anfield: Riyad Mahrez squandered a great chance to end Manchester City's poor record at Anfield after he blasted a late penalty over the bar on Sunday afternoon.

A characteristically electric start from both sides produced end-to-end action with a lack of clear-cut chances as Liverpool and Man City cancelled each other out in the first half. Pep Guardiola was left incensed when Sergio Aguero wasn't award a first-half penalty after the Argentine was brought down by Dejan Lovren inside the area.

It was much of the same in the second half as Riyad Mahrez had one of the better chances to break the deadlock but he dragged his shot wide. City were awarded a penalty after Virgil Van Dijk brought down substitute Leroy Sane in the 85th minute before Mahrez stepped up to take, and then miss, the spot kick.

Crucial moment - David Silva plays a lovely through ball and Leroy Sane is away but going nowhere under pressure from Van Dijk. The Dutchman brings him down with a clumsy challenge and there's no hesitation. A big chance for City to win the game.

18:12

84min - Mane winded

Sadio Mane stays down after Fernandinho raised his forearm to his neck in the act of trying to win the ball. He's left Mane a little short of breath but he can carry on.

18:07

79min - Sturridge header saved

Liverpool's turn to foray forward with Gomez down the right. He gets past Sane and crosses well. Hard header for Daniel Sturridge to get any power on and it's easy for Ederson.

18:04

76min - Sterling off, Sane on

Raheem Sterling has made his last contribution as Leroy Sane replaces him. A typically hostile Anfield goodbye for Sterling.

18:03

75min - Mahrez denied

City's turn to attack and Bernardo Silva leads a break and exchanges passes with Raheem Sterling before drilling a cross into the box. Alisson pushes it out but it comes to Riyad Mahrez, whose shot is turned round the post by the Liverpool keeper.

18:00

72min - Here comes Sturridge

Liverpool making a change up front and it's their impact sub Daniel Sturridge who's coming on for Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian has barely touched the ball.

17:58

Getting a bit tasty on the touchline

17:57

70min - Salah miscues

Mohamed Salah has come to life in the last few minutes and he latches on to a long diagonal by Andy Robertson. Nice control to steal half a yard on Laporte but he snatches at the shot and it disappears into the Kop. Klopp applauds his player's initiative in any case.

17:53

65min - Aguero off, Jesus on

Here comes Gabriel Jesus as Pep Guardiola shuffles his deck. Sergio Aguero is the man being replaced. He has struggled to make an impression to be honest.

17:52

64min - Mendy into the book

Benjamin Mendy grappling with Mohamed Salah and he fouls the Egyptian, preventing him getting into the City box. Maybe a booking worth taking in the circumstances.

17:51

63min - Chances for both sides

Another chance for Mahrez and that may well count as the first shot on target. It was a loose pass by Robertson this time on the left side and City were suddenly away. Mahrez saw the angle close and he could only fire into Alisson at his near post.

At the other end, Mo Salah with some space in which to operate at last. He curls a shot into the arms of Ederson.

At least we are seeing some chances!

17:49

61min - Mahrez fires wide

Gabriel Jesus is poised to come on for Manchester City as they seek to try and break this stubborn deadlock.

Riyad Mahrez almost does just that. He twists Robertson this way and that before firing his shot across goal and wide of the far post.

That's the best chance so far.

17:46

58min - Fernandinho a long way off

That really sums up the game so far. Fernandinho decides to shoot from 35 yards or more and it flies off miles wide. Oh dear. Guardiola not impressed down on the bench.

17:44

56min - Aguero booked

A late challenge by Sergio Aguero on Jordan Henderson, who goes down. Aguero is booked as a result. Caught him on the side of the knee.

17:38

50min - Gomez shot blocked

Liverpool starting with renewed purpose and the ball sits up nicely 20 yards from goal for Joe Gomez to fire off a shot. It's well blocked and the danger to City passes.

17:36

48min - Klopp up issuing instructions

A couple of long balls attempted by Liverpool in the opening three minutes of the half but they don't come to anything. Jurgen Klopp stood at the edge of his technical area urging some calm.

17:33

SECOND-HALF: Liverpool get us started again at Anfield

What will the final 45 minutes bring? The crowd taking their seats again as Liverpool kick-off. They're kicking towards the Kop now.

No changes at the break.

17:25

This just about sums up that first-half

3 - No Premier League match this season has had fewer shots in the first half than Liverpool v Manchester City (3 - level with Newcastle v Arsenal & Huddersfield v Cardiff). Sparing. pic.twitter.com/8k35qg88Nf

The half-time whistle blows at Anfield and it hasn't quite lived up to the billing so far. Certainly it hasn't been as entertaining as the three other meetings earlier this year.

Not one shot on target in the game so far. Liverpool started at 100mph but City weathered it expertly and have since been the better team.

All to play for in the second-half.

17:17

45+1min - Salah and Firmino link up

Mohamed Salah has been quiet but he was well found there, taking on Laporte and trying to thread a pass into Roberto Firmino inside the box. Ederson comes out and collects on the floor.

17:16

45min - Two minutes added on

17:13

43min - Waiting patiently for some goalmouth action

43 minutes and still not a shot on target...

Dominic King at Anfield:Watching this game illustrates how much Liverpool are missing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, exploding into spaces from midfield. Liverpool’s passing has been poor – Naby Keita’s start since replacing James Milner has been nervous, Gini Wijnaldum is struggling. Manchester City are comfortable at the moment.

17:09

39min - City pushing

Nicely worked City move down the left involving Mendy, David Silva and Sterling. The latter breaks into the box and feeds Silva again, but he's snuffed out. The corner is cleared by Lovren.

City appear the favourites to break the deadlock prior to half-time.

17:05

34min - Fernandinho and Mane collide

Sadio Mane not happy with Fernandinho's cynical challenge on him and the two players square up once the Liverpool man climbs off the ground. Fernandinho lucky not to be booked for raising his hand into the face of Mane.

17:00

29min - Keita replaces the injured Milner

And that change will now be made. A warm round of applause for Milner as he goes off. Naby Keita, who suffered a similar problem himself in Napoli in the week, comes on. Jurgen Klopp gives Milner a hug as he walks off.

Ian Ladyman at Anfield:James Milner abused by City fans as he leaves the field early. A strange way to treat a bloke who helped you win your first Premier League title.

16:58

28min - Milner goes down

James Milner has just dropped to the turf and he seems to have felt something go in his leg. Will need treatment.

He felt the back of his left hamstring after turning away from a block challenge with Kyle Walker a minute ago. Naby Keita being readied on the bench.

16:56

26min - City looking more composed

City seem to have weathered the early Liverpool storm and are now enjoying more of the ball and looking pretty comfortable with it.

Liverpool's front three haven't really got into top gear yet.

16:54

23min - Silva booked

Bernardo Silva becomes the first man into the referee's notebook for a late challenge on Mohamed Salah.

16:53

City starting to silence the crowd

Dominic King at Anfield:Funny atmosphere at the moment. Liverpool have enjoyed the best of the opening 19 minutes but every time Manchester City get into a threatening position a hush descends.

It is a mark of respect, recognising the quality of opponents Liverpool are facing. This might be famous last words but difficult to see the game being goal-less for much longer.

16:52

20min - City penalty appeal

City shouts for a penalty. Sergio Aguero controls the ball inside the box and Dejan Lovren sticks a foot out behind him. Penalty? Nope, the referee not interested.

Lovren actually glanced towards Martin Atkinson so he was worried. Aguero didn't make too much of it in fairness.

16:49

Head in hands moments for Guardiola

Ian Ladyman at Anfield:Twice already Pep Guardiola has had his hands on his head after his side have been caught out by the ferocity of Liverpool’s pressing of his players in possession.

This game has started like all the others here between these teams in recent times. Liverpool trying to overwhelm City with the speed and ferocity of their play and City hanging on a little bit. Crucially, Liverpool haven’t scored and if City can keep them out for a little longer they will hope the home team’s fire will blow out.

City will have a period of possession at some stage. The problem in the Champions League game last season was that by the time it arrived they were three goals behind.

16:48

17min - Salah nearly in

Liverpool push forward again following a spell of possession. Jordan Henderson clips a long ball forward searching for Mohamed Salah. He gets clear of the defenders but the ball is a fraction overhit and bounces through to Ederson.

16:45

14min - City pressure at last

Guardiola on his feet now and he doesn't look impressed as Sergio Aguero plays a pass out of play to a big cheer. City have barely strung two passes together in Liverpool's half so far.

But Raheem Sterling, to a chorus of boos, wins City's first corner after Fernandinho springs him clear. That's more like it.

The corner doesn't come to anything - easily cleared.

Bernardo Silva of Manchester City controls the ball under pressure from Georginio Wijnaldum

16:42

12min - Liverpool corner

Benjamin Mendy is pressured by Georginio Wijnaldum into conceding a corner and Liverpool load the box again with Virgil Van Dijk trotting forward.

Dejan Lovren gets to it, knocking the ball down into a pocket of space but Ederson is alert and gathers.

16:41

10min - Liverpool well on top

Jurgen Klopp down on the sidelines waving frantically. Pep Guardiola taking a more laid-back posture in his seat but he'll be anxious.

City haven't touched the ball in Liverpool's defensive third as yet.

16:37

7min - City on the ropes

Liverpool have definitely made the brighter start - their press on City's defenders and Ederson is excellent and causing more than a few nervy moments.

Sadio Mane gets in behind Bernardo Silva and dinks in a cross. City nervously get it away, they're really being pushed back in these opening minutes.

Liverpool's James Milner in action with Manchester City's Bernardo Silva

16:35

4min - Salah with game's first chance

The first chance goes Liverpool's way. Mohamed Salah onto the loose ball in a flash, cuts inside John Stones and fires in a shot that is a couple of feet wide of the near post.

A lesson for City, not that it was needed, not to give the ball away cheaply.

16:33

2min - Frenetic pace

Liverpool fans of a lightning-fast start and James Milner crosses to Mohamed Salah inside the box, but he can't turn towards goal.

Down the other end, a similarly quick City break, with Riyad Mahrez played through but the offside flag is raised.

If that's the pace of the game, we're in for a treat!

16:31

KICK-OFF: City get us underway

The familiar strains of You'll Never Walk Alone die down and the action can get underway.

Manchester City, kicking towards The Kop in the first-half, get us started.

16:27

Here they come...

The two teams emerge into a cauldron of an Anfield atmosphere on this Sunday afternoon.

Both know they could end the afternoon leading the Premier League but most important is the opportunity to lay down a marker and make a resounding statement for the rest of the season's title race.

Liverpool in their home colours of all-red of course, City in their dark blue away colours today.

16:25

The teams are in the tunnel

The waiting is almost over as the two sets of players take up their positions in the tunnel.

The atmosphere inside Anfield is absolutely electric.

It's the challengers against the champions.

16:19

10 minutes until kick-off

The atmosphere bubbling up nicely at Anfield.

16:17

A word from the managers

Both bosses have just been speaking on Sky Sports.

Jurgen Klopp on Pep Guardiola's remarks that he is scared of Liverpool's front three...I can imagine, that is how it is on some days when we are at our best. Not only those three. They can be scary. He respects my players and I respect them as well. I could write a song about all the qualities of the City players, it would be a long song.

Pep Guardiola on Liverpool...As a team, Liverpool's strong point is the quality of the players and the manager. If you make a mistake, they use it. When you have some doubts, they are so clinical. Those are the best teams in the world.

Ian Ladyman: All football managers have moments of doubt, no matter how successful they are. For Pep Guardiola, his most recent came back in March in the away dressing room at Goodison Park.

In the midst of preparing his team for a Premier League match against Everton, Manchester City's manager suddenly found himself consumed by the threat lurking on the immediate horizon across Stanley Park the following Wednesday. 'They scare me,' Guardiola said to two of his coaches. 'They are dangerous. I mean it.'

Guardiola – his words picked up by cameras filming for the recently released Amazon documentary about the club – was talking about the Liverpool attacking three of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. 'That is Liverpool,' he said. 'No more than that.'

Joe Bernstein: Kyle Walker was born in May 1990, the same month that Liverpool were last champions of England.

It's a sobering thought for those of a red persuasion given the Manchester City defender will be one of the older players on view at Anfield this Sunday afternoon. His club have won three Premier League titles in seven years while Liverpool's last success remains when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.

The history adds to the anticipation of Sunday's big game though Walker is keen it doesn't spill over into the nastiness of City's last visit to Anfield in April when their team bus came under attack from Liverpool fans chucking cans, bottles and pyrotechnics. The coach route is being kept a secret this time to dissuade anyone from planning a repeat.

For City, Benjamin Mendy is fit enough to play at left-back, which is a plus. That means Aymeric Laporte is at centre-half. No Leroy Sane, he's on the bench, so a chance for Riyad Mahrez this afternoon.

The most eye-catching thing there is that Trent Alexander-Arnold starts the match on the bench, with Joe Gomez moving to right-back and Dejan Lovren coming into the centre.

15:26

TEAM NEWS expected shortly

We should have the confirmed team line-ups for both Liverpool and Manchester City in about five minutes.

15:25

Opta big match stats

Liverpool are unbeaten in 17 home matches against Man City in all competitions (W12 D5) since losing 2-1 at Anfield in the Premier League in May 2003.

Man City have lost three matches against Liverpool in 2018, losing in the Premier League in January and two Champions League matches in April. They've only lost four matches in one calendar year against an opponent twice before, doing so against Grimsby Town in 1936 and Spurs in 1993.

Both Liverpool and Man City are unbeaten in their opening seven Premier League games this season - this is the latest meeting between two unbeaten sides in the competition since 2011-12 when Man City and Newcastle met in their 12th game of the season.

Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in each of their last eight Premier League home games - only in February 2007 (nine games) have they had a longer such run in the competition.

Manchester City have lost only one of their last 25 Premier League away matches (W20 D4), though it was in this exact fixture last season (3-4).

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 24 home league games, the longest current run in the Premier League (W16 D8).

City striker Sergio Aguero has played nine matches in all competitions at Anfield in his career (seven with Man City, two with Atletico Madrid), failing to score in any of those games, attempting just 11 shots and three on target.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 24 home league games, the longest current run in the Premier League (W16 D8).

City striker Sergio Aguero has played nine matches in all competitions at Anfield in his career (seven with Man City, two with Atletico Madrid), failing to score in any of those games, attempting just 11 shots and three on target.

Interview by Oliver Holt: Virgil van Dijk sits in a suite overlooking the pitch at Anfield. His posture is upright and still. He does not fidget or fret. He does not clasp his hands together and then unclasp them. He does not have any verbal ticks. He is calm. He is as elegant and composed off the pitch as he is on it.

He talks as he defends. He does not like the idea of making sliding tackles, he says early in the conversation, because that would mean he had been out of position. It would imply a measure of desperation in his performance. It would imply he were somehow ill-prepared.

It would imply disorder and Van Dijk does not like disorder. Rio Ferdinand, a defender in the same mould, said earlier this week that the only time a defender should be on the floor is if he drops to his knees in despair when his team concedes a goal.

You will remember those unsavoury scenes when Manchester City's team coach was pelted with bottles and other missiles as it arrived at Anfield for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final back in April.

Well, plenty of precautions are being taken to avoid a repeat today, with a change to the route the coach will be taking to the stadium and a heavy police presence.

Adam Crafton at Craven Cottage: As Aaron Ramsey scurried away to an away end abounding with joy and optimism, the Arsenal supporters broke into euphoric song. 'We've got our Arsenal back,' came the cry and after this result, a ninth win on the spin, it was hard to begrudge these fans their moment.

Seven weeks is a long time in English football. At the back end of August, Unai Emery was presented with a gruesome statistic: after two opening defeats, he had made the worst start to life as an Arsenal manager since Thomas Mitchell in 1897.

Now the historical comparisons are not so much positive as emphatically fawning. Arsenal have won nine or more in a row under only three previous managers - Herbert Chapman, George Graham and Arsene Wenger - and that trio all share in common top division titles.

The bunting and the ticker-tape remains premature but which Arsenal supporter would not be a little bit giddy after this one?